Embassy of the United States Minsk Belarus

About the Program

The Youth Leadership Program with Belarus is a four-week program designed to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and Belarus. Youth from Belarus and the U.S. will engage in workshops and activities focused on teambuilding, goal setting, project planning, citizen participation, and volunteerism. The program’s sub-theme of food production will engage youth in learning how to organize community service projects and how to partner with urban programs teaching agriculture and urban gardening. Participants will experience concepts in urban agriculture such as rooftop and balcony gardens and explore organic gardening and learn how these techniques can promote health and wellbeing.

The Youth Leadership Program with Belarus is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Following a pre-program orientation, participants will travel to Chicago, Illinois for an orientation and management training workshop. Participants will then travel to host communities in Illinois, Minnesota, and Colorado, to live with host families and engage in community activities, site visits, and cultural activities focused on the Community Support Gardens sub-theme. At the end of the program, Belarusian students will travel to Washington, DC for a workshop to learn about the United States, its history, and culture. After returning home, students will be supported in implementing projects in their home community and putting into practice their experience.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for a program scholarship, you must meet the eligibility requirements outlined below. If you pass to the next level of the scholarship competition, you will be required to provide documentation of your eligibility.

To participate in the Youth Leadership Program in Belarus applicants:

• Must be 15 to 17 years of age at the start of the program (birthdate must be between January 1 1996 and May 1, 1998, inclusive),
• Must be an 8th, 9th, or 10th grade student when applying for the program,
• Must have an academic standing of “good” or better, 
• Must have previously studied English and will demonstrate a high level of English-language ability at the time of registration,
• Must be a citizen of Belarus,
• Must demonstrate leadership potential and a desire to contribute to the community,
• Must meet U.S. visa eligibility requirements,
• Must be able to travel to the U.S. in July 2013, and
• Must not be an immediate family member of individuals who work with the YLP at the U.S. Department of State, American Councils, or one of the implementing organizations.

Program Calendar

How to Apply

Applicants must:

• Complete the application form and essay questions on-line and email, mail or deliver in person the required documents.

-OR-

• Complete the paper application form, including the essay questions, print and submit it and the required documents by mail, email, or in person to the U.S. Embassy in Minsk.
  Required documents:
• The application form (paper or online), including the essay questions;
• A visa photo or an electronic version of a photo taken within the last six months (photo should contain head and shoulders only);
• A copy of your passport or birth certificate.

Applicants must provide all parts of the application, visa photo and passport or birth certificate in order to be considered for the program. Semi-finalists will be notified of their status after December 15, 2012 and will be invited for an interview and further testing in January 2013. All testing will be conducted in English.

Where and When to submit Your Application

Applications must be received by the YLP office by November 28, 2012. Applications may be submitted:

In person to: 

U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section 
2A Gertsena St.  
220030 Minsk
Belarus
   
Phone: +375-17-217-0481     
8:30-5:30, Monday-Friday

Website: http://minsk.usembassy.gov/  

By email:

ylpbelarus@gmail.com

Online:

https://www.aisforms.org/ylpbelarus